No tobacco or vaping sales to those under 21?

A proposed law requested by State Attorney General Bob Ferguson and the Department of Health would raise the minimum legal age of sales for tobacco and vapor products from 18 to 21.

The bill, HB 1074, was co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of 11 representatives and introduced by House Minority Leader Rep. Paul Harris (R-Vancouver).

HB 1074 would prohibit the purchase of tobacco and vapor products for any person under the age of 21. The current age limit is set at 18 years old.

“It’s common knowledge at this point that the earlier you start consuming tobacco products the more severe the health consequences,” said Sen. Marko Liias, who represents the 21st Legislative District, which includes Edmonds.

“By delaying the purchase of tobacco to age 21, just as we have with alcohol and marijuana products, we would be doing a public health service to generations of Washington residents to come. This bill had a good start in previous sessions; I supported it then and I look forward to supporting it again this year.”

The pre-filed bill intends to decrease the number of eligible buyers in high school in order to reduce access of students to tobacco products.

The text of the bill states that jurisdictions across the country have been increasing the age of sale to 21 and at least six states and 350 cities and counties have raised the legal sales age.

The Institute of Medicine, a nonprofit organization that offers advice on issues related to health, agrees with the public health implications of raising the age of legal access to such products.

According to a report by the institute, among adult daily smokers, approximately 90 percent report their first use of cigarettes before the age of 19.

The institute argues that increasing the minimum legal age would likely prevent or delay the use of tobacco products by adolescents and young adults. The committee predicts that increasing the age of purchase will reduce tobacco use initiation among teenagers and improve the health of Americans.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse addresses the heightened risk of addiction to nicotine for adolescents and the negative effects on the development of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.

The center’s scientific studies of the brain have shown that humans are highly vulnerable to addictive substances until the age of 25.

HB 1074 ultimately aims to reduce the youth smoking rate in order to save lives and reduce health care costs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tobacco use causes approximately 6 million deaths per year.

According to the CDC, in Washington state, over $2.8 billion in health care costs can be directly attributed to the use of tobacco.